National Historic Landmark

Harrell Site

South Bend, Young County, Texas

Listed

October 14, 1966

Type

Site

Period

Industrial

Ref No.

66000825

About this property

The Harrell Site, also known as the M. D. Harrell Site, is a prehistoric Native American archeological site near South Bend in southern Young County, Texas. The site was discovered in 1937 as a result of survey work for the area to be inundated by the Possum Kingdom Lake. The site occupies the first and second terraces above the Brazos River's floodplain. Archeological investigation began in 1938 as a Work Projects Administration and University of Texas Statewide Archeological Survey. The site is believed to be that of a Plains Indian agricultural village, and was first excavated in 1938–39. The site's major element is a large midden and hearth, with a number of smaller hearth features and burial sites nearby. The site contains artifacts from the Late Prehistoric period, approximately 1200 AD to 1600 AD, including a variety of chipped stone points and scrapers. Fired earthenware bowls and jars have also been found. It is also the site where a particular type of projectile point, known as the Harrell point, was first identified, and was identified as the type site of the Henrietta focus in 1946. The site contains numerous hearths and more than one hundred burial sites, suggesting a settled population. Burials are often fragmentary in nature, with a few covered by limestone slabs. Excavations have also found evidence of mass graves, scalpings, and bodies with other signs of murder and mutilation such as dismemberment and arrow wounds dating back around 1000 - 1500 A.D., leading archaeologists to believe the area was fought over because of its access to water and fertile farmland. The site is still under excavation today.

Location

South Bend, Young County, Texas

Everything a full report reveals about Harrell Site

This page lists Harrell Site. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Questions about this property

When was Harrell Site listed on the National Register?

Harrell Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Harrell Site?

Harrell Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Harrell Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Harrell Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Harrell Site?

The period of significance for Harrell Site is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1937.

Can I research the history near Harrell Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Harrell Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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